My first outdoor adventure

When I was on my first year, my mom used to wonder at my skills, the speed and the zeal I picked up things, and called me 'Wonder One'. Then I started to give trouble at the age of two. There was a hiccup in all my activities like eating, sleeping, playing and reading. It was terrible for her. She called me 'Terrible two'.

But when a child becomes 3, she is no longer a baby. I am nearing 3 and have started to show some traits of it. Yup, all my baby things are fading away and am becoming matured these days.

I can eat and sleep on own. I am potty trained - means I can pee or poop on my own without assistance, placing the potty seat and step stool, grab the tissue, wipe myself and wash my hands all by myself with clean soap and water. I am able to brush my hair and suggest new hairstyles for each of my outfits. Also, my grooming sense has improved a lot, that I can do my nails and eyes without much mess. When my mom was about to name me 'Terrific three', my notoroius activities also have started.

When she asked me, 'Honey! can we have a haircut?' I told her, 'Bring the scissors, I'll cut your hair.' When she said 'Honey! I am tired. I cannot drive the car.' I told her 'Gimme the keys. I can drive it.'

One evening Amma, Shibi and myself went to the park and Shibi was lost in the hiking. She was coordinating with him on the phone while I silently took the car keys and went into the car and locked from inside. She dint realize it for a while and was giving him directions to stay safe as it has started raining. Then she tried to open the door, but could not open it as it was locked and the keys were in. She tried to give me signs to press the unlock button. All her cues were beyond my ken and was unable to hear her either. Worst was the case that I sat on my car seat and strapped myself. Are u feeling like watching 'Dunkston checks in'? She felt like a ring master in the circus. She called the police and they rescued me in 10 minutes. Now tell me. What can she name 'A terror at three'?

Who likes Shopping?

It has been a long while since I stopped by. I had been busy for days together. Before pulling anyone's legs I shall try to have you answered these couple of questions.

1) Who takes more time to dress up? A man or a woman?

2) Who takes more time to shop? A man or a woman?

But its contrary in our household. My dad always takes his own time to dress up even on weekends. He dresses up like a CEO even to throw garbage in the dumpster. Believe it or not we are almost 3 women and together we take less time in shopping than him. Last weekend when we had been to the Mall, he took 2 hours to choose a shirt. My question is What is there to think when the choice left is only Blue color? The worst part is he dint buy anything after spending 2 hours in browsing. Improvising rules like 'Every half an hour of his time spent on browsing = money spent on something for us' also does not seem to work. Worst is the case that the lessons learnt by anyone is NIL. He does the samething whenever he goes to the Mall and we do try to give him company patiently as usual.

Fortunately that evening we had a delightful Dance concert in temple to soothe our headache. It was performed by three professionals and the first half was Mohiniattam and then the Bharathanatyam on the second. We dint understand the Mohiniattam part, but totally enjoyed the later half. They rendered on the theme 'Shivashakthi'. 'Ommachi and Demon were dancing on Thodi' - those were my words after the concert. Yes I mean the Mahishasuramardini doing vadam on the demon dancing to the beats on Thodi Raga. I have to say its just more than awesome. Something unthinkable and a flawless professionalism in each of the individuals.

Roma Vs Mama

Do you wonder how do we spend time when we are together at home. Let me dramatize a sample scenario of one of our evening times.

"I was eating strawberry. Mom thought I am hungry and brought me paruppu mammu to eat as it was supper time. I said 'No' for it and she ate it herslef, as she dint want to waste. Next I saw her preparing Rasam Mammu for me. She placed the plate on the dining table and sat on the chair. I told 'No its my Chair' and kicked her out of the chair and started to eat mammu. I finished half and told her 'I want deetha'. She game me some water and I proceeded. After some time I told her it was kaaram and asked her some Ghee. She poured in some and I played with the mammu and left the spot to play Mouth Organ. Again she dint want to waste it and ate the rest. Next I saw her preparing Thachi mammu on the plate. Who in the world would say No for it? I threw away the mouth organ and sat on the chair and ate some and went away. She started to eat the rest. Am I not a good baby? I had my supper well isn't? Now I asked her for Scissors to do a project. She shouted at me telling she wont give it. But why is she making unnecessary scenes when I am too good at home. I gave a complaint to Appa."

Did you read that? Now read her version of the same story. Here she goes...

"Gosh. I was already running late. Still lot of work to do, to end the day. I was terribly hungry. Decided to eat first and then feed my little one. I brought my favourite Dhal rice with Vethai Kozhambu as side dish. My little toddler stopped by and asked 'Is that Paruppu mammu?'. I said yes and offered her if she wants some. She vacated the spot. I finished eating them and went for the secound round Rasam rice. I placed the food on the table and was about to sit, when the little pumpkin kicked me out of the chair and started to eat my food. I thought it was Ok, as there came some means that she could eat. I took rest on the other chair. But she asked me to bring Water first, then Ghee. She wouldnt let me sit in a place for some time. She had couple of spoons of Rasam mammu with ghee and went away. I finished eating the rest brought curd rice. Again she came to trouble and started to eat from my plate. But dint complete it as usual. Just munched some and went to play. Atlast I resumed eating my dinner. But the little pie dint give up yet. Now asked for Scissors. I shouted at her for not letting me eat peacefully. It has been an hour since I started eating."

Now I cried on my high tone and started to complain to Appa. Appa is a patient and intelligent person. He is the Judge Judy of our home. He has a way to convince both of us. He doesn't have a choice either. He solved the problem by giving me the scissors and letting amma eat peacefully too. But the reward for it is scoldings from her. You know why? I cut opened all the diapers that she kept to give for the day care.

Hmmm... This is what happens when three of us are home together.

Cute little ways to annoy people

I like to remember people by names. Mom usually says if one can remember people by name, then they have a very high self esteem. That means I carry a real good self esteem. I ask the names of the people that come on the TV, walk on the streets and expect mom to know everyones name. She is quite tired about that and manages to create names like Edward, Jonnathan for unknown people.

One morning I was rushing up to school and mommy was straping me round the car seat, when our next door neighbour started to school too. I asked mommy who she was. She said she is our neighbour. I immediately yelled 'Good Morning Neighbour' and embarrased mommy totally.

That evening she took me to Olive gardens and I asked her about the server and the sweeper women who they were. Mom dint take risk this time. She diplomatically said they were the employees of the resturant.

I told you already that I am learning about cars these days. Mom taught me Hyundai car several times standing at the logo and shouting Hyuundaai at the top of her voice. She has taught that umpteen times and I kept my mouth shut and didnt even repeat it once. She was tired and taught that I could not pronounce Hyundai. One evening we were watching the news on CNN about the new Hyundai Plant opened up in Huntsville. When they showed the logo I immediately yelled 'Mommy this is Hunday' in American accent (and thats the way to pronounce it) . She was thoroughly annoyed. She gave a comment 'What won't u learn anything taught in Indian Accent?'

Topsy Turvy

I am quite tired of the tests that mom gives and wanted to do something different and decided to test her on one of the topics that she usually does. I wanted to be fair with her, gave it on her comfort zone - music and from the syllabus "Golden Harmony - by Ranjani and Gayatri'. This is the CD that we are currently listening in the car.

I sang a line 'Sadashiva Param' and wanted her to continue siniging the line. She sang 'Sadashiva Chandrasekara...' in Gowri manohari which was wrong. She argued with me that there is only one such song in the CD that has a line Sadhashiva and thats 'Gowri Manohara'. After squeezing her head for a long time, she gave an other answer 'Shankara Sadha Siva' which was also wrong, an out-of syllabus question (another CD) and neither does it have 'Sadhashiva parama'.

Then the topic faded away, Poor me could not argue with her any longer. But after another hour I was humming 'Thaye Tripura Sundari'. She realized that in the anupallavai comes 'Samagana Magizh Sadhasiva paramenum' and accepted her defeat.

No wonder she prefers to play the Dharumi role always. Question kekkarthu romba easy illa?

Missed the hat-trick but won the game

As decided, I did not go to school today. Mom had an appointment at 1.00pm for sonogram and Appa had to got to Nashville for work. But he said he will make it before noon. Mom gave him a call around 12.00 and there was no response from him as usual. She gave several calls since then, but he didnt respond. We lost hopes. Mom and I started to the OB-office and were there on time. But still no calls and no show from Appa. Finally the technician called us in and we went inside.

I was very upset in the room as I was scared that they are going to do something for me. The lady asked me to sit on the couch but I refused to do it. Had Appa been there, he would have carried me. I had no choice and stayed with Amma in her seat hugging her tight. Both of us were very angry with Appa for not turning up. The technician went ahead and showed us the baby on the screen. She started with heartbeat, head, arms, legs, feet and finally the sex of the baby. The baby waived hands for both of us. She copied the session on to a Dvd and we were good to go out. Mom got dressed up and we opened our door. To our surprise we saw Appa there.

He looked even more tensed. But we were not at all angry upon him for we had a very happy news in the dark room - proving to be a kutti Roma. Mom and I were on cloud nine and appa was quite relieved seeing our faces. I was literally dancing for I ever wanted a baby sister. Mom promised to buy cup-cakes for me to celebrate this. We had a formal discussion with the doctor and directly went to Kroger to buy cup-cakes. I was very sleepy on the way home, as I missed my nap. Mom took me to the bed directly and I was wide asleep...

My grandma has a younger brother (big sister-little brother combo), my mom has a younger brother (big sister - little brother), and I wud have hit the hat-trick if the sonogram proved otherwise. Anyways, I took rest for the rest of the day for having won the game.

Some tidbits

1. After AJ has been moved to the green room, I am hanging out with Sophia. We are like two little magnets, one driving the other and repel each other when brought into contact. Yes us both hangout together whereever we go, but keep on fighting all day long. Our teachers found it very hard to picture us together, for we were ever fighting in the classroom.
2. I have started to do correct usage of numbers while I speak. When mom was eating mixture I asked her 'What is that?' first then realized the number and asked 'What are they?'. Hurray!!!
3. I have learnt the difference between Reflection and Shadow. A reflection is something that u can see your own image clear or obscure. But a shadow is just a dark shade of ur own image. Sometimes it could look quite different. For example, when I went near the wall with my pony tails on, I saw a Mickey Mouse.
4. Did you notice a difference in my mom's hairstyle. We all asked her why is the change for? She gave several reasons. But I found out the actual reason last week when she was talking with her friend. Evertime whoever sees me say that I look like her. To reinforce that, she has cut her front portion of her hair and wears dresses matching to mine and makes sure to keep the Same Bindhi that I keep. Isn't she crazy? Sometimes we dont know who is a mom and who is a kid.

We are like Yashodha and Krishna

When I came home from school, I asked Mom to give nail polish. She gave it and I did on my right hand and she did the left for me. Could you make out the difference? I have learned to paint nail polish these days without making a mess. Mom was stunned at my performance and gave me lots of kisses and was busy in the kitchen making dinner.

I was very silent and did not trouble her at all and let her do her work. Dear Thathas and Paatti's! Have you started praising my glory? Yes I could hear sounds like 'Very Intelligent girl.... Samathu....etc'... Mmmm.. Dont praise me yet. Mom knows that if I am silent, I have a job waiting for her. Yes.. I made mess all over. I painted my hands with the nail polish and she had toiugh time to remove it. Want to see???